Reading Your Toyota Tacoma Tire Size

Toyota Tacoma tires come in four different sizes. Which size tire you get depends entirely on the trim level you choose.

At first glance, tire sizes seem like a randomly assorted mix of letters and numbers. For example, the base Tacoma trim level comes with P245/75R16 tires. What does any of that mean? How are you supposed to know your tire size from that?

Well, it all actually breaks down somewhat simply. To start, the letter at the beginning—in this case, P—denotes a passenger car tire type. This can also come as LT for light truck, which is sometimes featured in larger SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans.

From there, the tire size breaks down by:

• Width
• Aspect ratio
• Construction
• Wheel diameter

The width of your tire is signified by the three numbers following the first letter. So, in the base Tacoma trim, that would be 245. That means these tires have an overall width of 245 millimeters.

Behind the slash mark is the aspect ratio, which essentially notes the height of the tire’s profile. It’s calculated by dividing the tire’s height from the rim by its width. In the case of the Tacoma, 75 means the tire’s height is 75% of its width.

The second letter, found to the right of the aspect ratio, indicates the tire's construction. This tells you how the tires are internally constructed or how the tires internal layers are arranged.

There are two types of tire constructions. R, as we see here, is the more common type and means the tire has a radial construction. If you see D, B, or -, it means that the tire has a diagonal or bias ply construction.

Finally, the last two numbers represent the wheel's diameter. This shows the wheel size that these tires will fit around. So, if you see a 16 at the end of a tire size, it means that it can fit around 16-inch wheels.

Additional Toyota Tacoma Tire Sizes

Now that you know how to read tire sizes, let’s cover the rest of the available tires you’ll see on the Toyota Tacoma.

The base trim features P245/75R16 tires. However, as you upgrade along the trim level roster, you’ll have the option of the following tire sizes:

• P265/65R17
• P265/70R16
• P265/60R18

Across its four available tire sizes, the Toyota Tacoma will come with either 16-inch, 17-inch, or 18-inch wheels.

Checking Your Tire Health

There are several useful methods for checking the condition and the health of your vehicle's tires.

First is to check the tread depth. This is an easy way to ensure the tires still have enough traction for you to safely keep driving on them.

The penny test is the most common way to test tread depth. All you have to do is place a penny upside down in the tread of each tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it may mean that your tire tread is too worn down.

Another way is to check tire pressure. Typically, your vehicle will come with an internal warning light or indicator that tells you that tire pressure is low. Although you can do a manual tire pressure check yourself, it’s probably best to simply have the tires inspected at a local service center.

Lastly, monitor the condition and the age of the tires since they were last repaired or replaced. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual is the best place to find out how much time or how many miles your tires are supposed to last.

When the time comes to have your vehicle's tires replaced, rotated, or repaired, feel free to contact or visit our Toyota service center to schedule a service appointment.